Tesla electric car the star at Meralco’s prototype charging station in the energy company’s compound in Pasig City—the site of the EV Summit

THE 3rf Electric Vehicle Summit is set on February 27 to 28 at the Meralco compound in Pasig City.

Rommel Juan, president of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (eVAP), one of the organizers, said that the EV Summit has now become more relevant in light of the recent effects of Typhoon Yolanda.

“Now, people are more conscious of the negative effects that can be brought upon by our neglect in preserving the environment, resulting in global warming and climate change. That’s why even major auto shows abroad have prominently featured electric vehicles and other forms of alternative-fuel vehicles,” Juan said.

eVAP has 56 active members, 27 of whom are corporations. The group is part of the Electric Vehicle Alliance, which consists of Meralco, Partnership for Clean Air, Clean Air Initiative Asia and the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, among others.

eVAP said that the EV Summit aims to strengthen the cooperation between the government and the private sector to mainstream the ecosystem required by electric vehicle use.

“This is expected to attract over 500 participants that include major EV players from Asia and the Philippines. We brought them together so that major issues and concerns hampering the growth of the EV industry can be discussed and, in the process, partnerships could be developed,” Juan said.

Also expected to attend are EV parts manufacturers and assemblers, officials of government agencies, heads of LGUs and academic institutions, Juan added.

The eVAP chief noted that the EV Summit has also been successful in bringing together EV industry players from around the Asian region into the Philippines.

“Our local EV players were able to forge relations with foreign EV companies from Taiwan, Japan and Korea. The collaborations have made it easier for these partnerships to participate in high-ticket projects like the DOE-ADB Electric Tricycle Program, thanks in no small measure to eVAP,” he said.

The EV Summit will feature a trade fair where foreign and local EV parts manufacturers will display their latest products. Teco from Taiwan, partner of local EV pioneer PhUV Inc., will unveil its locally assembled electric tricycle.

Mitsubishi Motors Phils. Corp. will launch their electric-powered version of the Outlander SUV.

“The Philippines is now on the verge of an EV tipping point where all the pieces of the puzzle are falling into place. Once they all come together, the Philippines may finally be the EV manufacturing hub of the region. But first, we need to put the right business environment in place. This we hope to iron out during the EV Summit,” Juan said.